USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 38
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" Soon after the siege of Londonderry, and because of the exac- tions imposed upon them by government, the Scotch-Irish were again seized with the spirit of emigration. They had done their work in the north of Ireland, and done it well. But the results were to be reaped beyond the seas. They sought now a land where they might enjoy unmolested the fruits of their industry, and that form of religious worship which was all the dearer by reason of the gen- erations of suffering endured to secure it. But above and beyond all these second causes, the wheels of Providence were full of eyes, and down through the swift-coming years a power was directing the steps of those men that they might assist in founding a republic, the grandeur of whose destiny is just beginning to dawn upon the world.
"The Scotch-Irish emigration to this country affords an important chapter of its history during the eighteenth century, and they have had an important influence in shaping our system of government. Many of them settled originally in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. So early as 1729 more than 6,000 had already set- tled in Pennsylvania, and by the middle of the century for a num- ber of years nearly 12,000 arrived in this country annually. Their descendants have gone into every state and territory of the Union. They have risen to the highest positions in church and state, they have controlled the destinies of the country from the presidential chair, from the bench of the supreme court, and from the senate and congress of the United States. In the church they have been no less influential, and thousands of our clergymen and prominent lay- men are to-day holding the church to its moorings against the tides of infidelity that are sweeping over us.
" The Scotch-Irish emigrants to New England were among the first to come to this country. They arrived. in Boston in five ships on the 4th of August, 1718, 181 years ago this present month. There were 100 families in all who came to Boston. Of these, six- teen families, who had formed the congregation of James McGreg- ore in Ireland, determined to secure a settlement together, and to have Mr. McGregore for their minister. They were directed to Casco bay, in the province of Maine, then belonging to Massachu- setts, where they arrived late in the season of 1718. The winter was unusually severe ; their vessel was frozen in, and they were with- out sufficient provision to supply their wants. The point at which
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they landed is now known as Cape Elizabeth, in Falmouth harbor. The spot has been recently identified by a stone fireplace on the shore, where they did their cooking. Time had concealed this from view, but quite recently it was revealed by the washing away of the shore. It consisted of three plain slabs, so arranged as to create a draft and to hang a kettle for cooking. They suffered greatly dur- ing the winter, but expected to endure hardships. So they made themselves as comfortable as possible, sang the 137th Psalm and patiently awaited the opening of spring. They were the immediate ancestors of some of those who stand before me to-day, and were every way worthy of such a posterity. As they stood upon the shores of a new continent, where they were determined to make for themselves a home, they found the source of their hope and their comfort in God. The unseen eye of a Father's love was upon them. They suffered, but the suffering was the making of the men. It was of such material upon which God has built the great fabric of our modern institutions.
" Finding no suitable place to locate on the coast of Maine, they reembarked on the opening of spring, and, sailing along the coast southward, entered and ascended the Merrimack river as far as Haverhill. Here they heard of a tract of land known as Nutfield, which was unappropriated. Thither they proceeded, and took pos- session of the place on the 11th of April, old style, 1719. Their pastor, James McGregore, was with them, and delivered a brief address of congratulation, and on the following day preached a ser- mon from Isaiah 32: 2. This was the first sermon ever preached in the town of Londonderry. The place was beneath a spreading oak, on the east side of Beaver pond. Says Parker, in his history of Londonderry : 'Then, for the first time, did this wilderness and solitary place, over which the savage tribes had for centuries roamed, resound with the voice of prayer and praise, and echo to the sound of the gospel.' And here, I may add, sanctified by the religious services of the occasion, the first church distinctively Presbyterian was planted upon the soil of New England.
"The people of Bedford must ever take a lively interest in this little colony of Londonderry settlers, for it was from them, in 1737, that the first settlers in Bedford came. Some of your ancestors were doubtless among those sufferers of Casco bay, and who gath- ered around the Rev. James McGregore, at Beaver pond, while he comforted their hearts, and encouraged their faith with the precious truths of the gospel. And it affords a strong illustration of the devotional spirit of those men, their faith in God, and their determi- nation to lay the foundations of their community on the principles of eternal truth, that before a survey was made, or a lot chosen, the place was consecrated in the service of prayer and praise. What a contrast, this, from the mad rush that has characterized the recent occupancy of some of our Western territory.
"Among the signers for the incorporation of the town of Bedford
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are the names of Riddle, McAllister, Walker, Patten, Goffe, Chand- ler, and others, names that were still common in the town during my pastorate here, and will doubtless remain so for generations to come. But many of them have gone to other places to seek their fortunes in manufacturing towns or in the far West. The most of these names are of Scotch-Irish origin, and the most of them, though not all, come here from the Londonderry colony.
"The same spirit of loyalty to God and dependence upon His grace characterized the Bedford settlers. That unseen hand that had defended them against their foes in Ireland, that had preserved them through the dangers of the deep and upheld them through the terrible winter of 1718-'19 was still trusted to shield them from savages, and provide for them a table in the wilderness, and almost their first act was to provide for themselves a house of worship. With few in number and limited means they began the work about 1750, and after several years of tedious delay, during which they worshipped in barns or the open air, their house of worship was com- pleted, and a settled minister secured in the person of the Rev. John Houston, who was settled as the first pastor on the 28th of Septem- ber, 1757.
"I need not enter into the details of the history of Bedford. They are given fully, concisely, and in a most readable form by your town history, published at the time of the centennial, in 1850. Doubtless you will have an historical committee to bring the history down to the present date.
"I need only say in this connection that the town and church have had a most honorable history, and, notwithstanding the steady drain upon its numerical strength, by reason of the men and women who have gone out from its happy homes to build up and enrich other parts of our great country, Bedford still maintains its place among the New Hampshire churches, full of life, full of enterprise, and still a power for good, not only in New Hampshire, but to the ends of the earth. Men and women have gone from this town, as they have from all other New England towns, to build up the mighty West; to infuse new life and energy into the manufactur- ing cities of the land, and as missionaries, to carry the gospel to the remotest habitations of men.
" We sometimes feel discouraged, ministers and people, as we wit- ness this constant drain upon the rural churches by removals and by the spirit of emigration that seems to prevail everywhere. But we should rejoice, rather, that this spirit only enlarges the sphere of our usefulness. The men and women who go out from these churches, and from the influence of these New England homes, carry with them their habits of industry, their educational training, and their Christian characters, to enrich and bless the people and places whither they go. For fourteen years, during my ministry in New England, I was often discouraged by this constant tide of western emigration, whose effect was to weaken the home churches, both in
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numbers and spiritual force. So that, when I received a call to the West my thought was that I should no longer be called to contend with this spirit of unrest that seemed to exhaust all the energies of these rural churches. But I found that in Illinois, the same as in New Hampshire, the tide was still westward. The states of Cali- fornia, Oregon, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska are largely peopled by the millions who have gone thither from the great Mississippi valley, as well as from New England. They have reached the west- ern slopes of the Rocky Mountains; they stand upon the shores of the Pacific, and their eyes are now turned towards those islands that have so suddenly and wonderfully come within the reach of Ameri- can ambition and American enterprise. And who shall deny an overruling Providence in this westward star of empire-a Provi- dence as unerring as that which brought our fathers across the Atlantic? We may not as yet fathom God's purpose, but we may be sure that all these movements are in the interest, and for the pur- pose, of the world's evangelization, in which it is the manifest des- tiny for this country to take a leading part.
"At the Bedford centennial in 1850, much was said of the wonder- ful progress in discoveries, inventions, and arts during the previous 100 years. Steam and the electric telegraph were then compara- tively new forces, just beginning to be utilized in human industries. The spinning-wheel of 100 years before was contrasted with the cotton mills of that day, and the horse's two days' journey to Boston with the steam engine and electric telegraph. To illustrate these remarkable changes, on the day of the celebration a telegram was received from the Hon. Levi Woodbury, then in Washington, giv- ing an account of the proceedings of congress at that moment in session. It was truly wonderful, and well worthy of notice on such an interesting occasion. But, could a panoramic view of the next fifty years have passed in prophetic vision before that assembly gath- ered just south of the old town house what an astonishing picture would they have beheld. They would have seen those electric wires. girdling the earth, with their submarine cables connecting every continent on the whole planet. The earth's millions talking with one another, and reporting the news of the day, to be read on the opposite side of the planet the day on which it happened. They would have seen a network of railways all over this continent, span- ning the mountains, the rivers, and prairies from sea to sea-an event only dreamed of by the men of their generation. They would have seen an audience in Chicago listening to an opera in New York city, charmed by the words of the song and the sweet tones of har- mony that were swept across the interval on the wires of the tele- phone. They would have seen millions of people traversing town and country on the bicycle, the trolley car, and the automobile. They would have seen the most astounding evolutions in every department of science and art. They would have seen the Bible- the same old Bible which they loved and we love, under a fire of
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criticism as hot as Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, but remaining un- singed, and without even the smell of fire upon it. They would have seen a dark war cloud rising above the horizon, and heard the clash of arms resounding from South to North, and have seen the shackles fall from 3,000,000 of bondmen. They would have seen 40,000,000 of people issuing from the horror and smoke of battle addressing themselves, with all the energy of Anglo-Saxon blood, to repair the ravages of war. They would have seen the two hostile sections, sadder and wiser by reason of the conflict, gradually sink- ing their animosities and welding themselves together as a reunited people under the folds of that emblem of civil and religious liberty, which, down deeply in their hearts, they all so tenderly loved. They would have seen their country starting upon a tide of pros- perity such as was never seen or dreamed of in human history, which has left the achievements and glory of ancient civilizations as far behind as the savages of darkest Africa were behind the civiliza- tions of Greece and Rome. They would have seen the American nation, under the guidance of that same mysterious Providence which was with them from the beginning, and whose issues we, our- selves, have not yet realized, crushing, with a few well-aimed blows, the old Castilian monarchy that was the terror of the world under Charles V, 300 years ago. And amidst all these marvelous advance- ments they would have seen the descendants of the old Scotch-Irish stock-their own descendants, many of them-keeping even pace with the Puritan in the onward progress of this wonderful country towards its high destiny.
"But as we stand here to-day, within a few months of the dawn of the twentieth century, judging by the past, what may we look for during the next fifty years? The fact is, events follow each other in such rapid succession, we grow almost dizzy with the whirl of days and years, in the contemplation of what is coming. These astonishing means of rapid transit; the discovery and use of hitherto unknown forces in nature; the fearful perfection attained in the science of war; the girding of the nations for a mighty conflict, and, withal, the tremendous leap of the American nation to the front of the world's great powers, are events calculated to awaken serious reflection, and to suggest the inquiry, have we any means of judging the future by the past? Do not these swiftly recurring events con- found all our calculations and turn us in mute dependence to Him who was the guide of our fathers in the beginning of our history, and who will evolve, from the mysteries of His Providence, the accomplishment of that Divine purpose for which this nation, born of so many nationalities, was called into existence? I believe that God has had a purpose in raising up this great nation; that that purpose may be traced through all the small and feeble beginnings that marked the early stages of its history, and that will, despite the abounding wickedness, be finally consummated-namely, that this American nation is to be a mighty factor in the evangelization of the world.
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"How near we may be to that consummation none can tell, but the whole trend of events seems to point in one direction, that the blessings of civil and religious freedom which we enjoy are to be carried forward along with the gospel, to the nations sitting in darkness. The running of many to and fro, and knowledge being increased, are the sure precursors of that everlasting righteousness that is to cover the earth.
"And now, friends and citizens of Bedford, I thank you for the honor you have conferred upon me, in sending for me to address you to-day. As I look back over the years of my ministry here, I recall them as forming an important part of my ministerial life. During the ten years of my pastorate I had the opportunity of observing the character of the people, and I take pleasure in bearing testimony to my high appreciation of their many virtues and Chris- tian worth. The old Scotch-Irish element of fidelity to the truth and firmness in upholding it, was apparent in all the departments of church work, as well as in all social relations one with another. In promoting the welfare of the community, in adopting measures for the advancement of educational and religious interests, there was a unanimity of sentiment that made the adoption of measures easy and success sure. The Rev. Mr. Savage, after a study of the people extending over forty years, pointed out this special charac- teristic aptly when he said: 'Bedford moves slowly; but when it starts, it moves in a body.' This feature in the character of the people has made them conservative, and is the basis of all their prosperity.
"Bedford is not one of the towns of New Hampshire that is going to die for the want of moral or spiritual vitality. The influ- ence of its ministry, especially that of Mr. Savage, in promoting spiritual life among its people, has been healthful and permanent, and Bedford is going to live and thrive so long as the devotion and moral stamina of the fathers remain to inspire the courage and direct the faith of the children. That the generation of your pos- terity may celebrate the 200th anniversary of your history, with ever increasing honor and glory, is the hope and prayer of all those who have gone out from among you to bless other portions of the world."
The Rev. J. E. Wildey of New Boston then read a hymn in which the audience joined in singing.
The exercises were brought to a close by remarks of a congratu- latory and complimentary nature made by visiting clergymen and delegates. The remarks were all brief and hardly more than the expressions of greeting and words in praise of the church and the day's exercises. New Hampshire's governor came in for numerous compliments, the clergy being highly pleased at the interest he manifests in the spiritual welfare of the state.
The churches represented were : Antrim Presbyterian, Goffstown Congregational, Londonderry Presbyterian, First Congregational of
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Manchester, First Presbyterian of Manchester, North Londonderry Congregational, New Boston Presbyterian, and Westminster Pres- byterian.
The celebration was closed by the singing of a hymn and the pronouncing of the benediction by Dr. Lindsay.
The choir, which sang so acceptably, both in the morning and afternoon, was made up as follows: Sopranos-Miss Agnes Currie, Miss Jennie Woodbury, Miss Lillian Kingsley, Miss May Krol, Miss Amy French, Miss Mary Crowell, Miss Mae Currie, Miss Myra French, Miss Gerda Huntoon, Miss Louise C. Smith, Miss Minnie Stevens, Miss Alice Barnard, Miss Evelyn Stevens, Miss Gertrude Lane, Miss Ethel Mack, Mrs. John Quaid, Mrs. O. G. Kilton, Mrs. George French, Mrs. J. B. Lodge, Mrs. C. C. Brock.
Altos-Miss Maggie Currie, Miss Winifred French, Mrs. W. B. French, Miss Alice M. Buzzell, Mrs. W. C. Lindsay.
Tenors-D. Burns Bartlett and Edward K. Burbeck.
Bassos-Stephen S. Reade, J. E. Perigo, and W. J. Rudd.
The general committee in charge of the arrangements for the celebration consisted of the pastor, as chairman: Miss Martha Woodbury and Mrs. Stephen Goffe as secretaries; Messrs. J. R. Leach, E. R. French, Gordon Woodbury, and Miss Mary Manning. The following committees did efficient work :
Finance-James R. Leach, chairman and treasurer.
District No. 1-Fred A. French and S. C. Damon. No. 2- Albert Flint. No. 3-W. W. Darrah. No. 4-Mrs. Edmund Hill. No. 5-Lyman Kinson. No. 6-Charles Burseil. No. 7-Thomas Barr. No. 8-A. W. Holbrook. No. 9-George Hardy. No. 10- Harry Shepard.
Music-Mrs. Lyman Kinson, assisted by Harry Whittemore.
Entertainment-Stephen Goffe, F. R. French, S. C. Damon, and Miss Mary Manning.
Invitations-Miss Martha Woodbury.
Transportation-Gordon Woodbury.
Dinner-George Barnard, W. W. Darrah, W. S Manning, Mrs. J. E. French, and Miss Ethel French.
Sunday-school exercises-A. W. Holbrook and Mrs. J. B. Lodge.
The following verses, written for the occasion by one of the members of the church, Deacon S. C. Damon, contain a list of the fifty-five elders of the church, of which seven are living, four being in active service :
Since 1749, there have been enrolled Fifty and five of elders all told, And thus their names in order run Since this grand church has been begun.
John Orr, the first man, was elected In the same year the church was founded. Then seven years later we do discover A Smith, two Moors, and Robert Walker.
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In 1762 the church then made a choice In the selection of Jonathan Williams and William Boise, Who, with Hugh Riddle and Robert Gilmore, Gave to the session much wisdom and lore.
As 1766, in the cycles roll around, James Little and James Gilmore's names are found. Then following them in order Come Matthew Miller and Robert Alexander.
In 1786, John Orr and Silas Dole Were added to complete the roll. And since the elders needed solace, They sought and found it in James Wallace.
The very next year our attention is turned To John Aiken, Jesse Worcester, and Asa Barnes.
Just forty years from the organization We find Ephraim Abbott gets his election.
In 1803, the August session Took unto itself David McQuesten. John Craig, John Houston, William Moor And Phineas Aiken made others four.
In 1804, they simply took A man by the name of John Holbrook.
Then these passed in years thirteen Before others came upon the scene.
Then we find a Stephen Thurston, John French and John Orr Houston, Another Dole, whose name was Richard, A Stephen, too, who proved no laggard.
In 1832 were solved all rising questions By Atwood French and Samuel McQueston. Then they elected Daniel Mack, Who also in wisdom did not lack.
James and Phineas French now enter my song, Who both for right were ever strong. Then William B. Stevens, in '59, Is one of the foremost in the line.
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Six years shall pass before the elders sage Find helpers in Nevins, Parkhurst, Gage, And then, to make up for the waning session, They elected the elders, Wetherspoon and Damon.
Hugh, Freeman, and Frederick for Frenches we find, All men of good sense and excellent mind. Hodgman, Frederick and John, with Clark and Cutler, Gave to '76 an unusual number.
Samuel Gardner, whose piety you all relate, Was elected with Gage and Walker in '78, And Samuel P. Duncklee, our senior member, With Jasper P. George complete the number.
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REPORT OF THE WEST BEDFORD Y. P. S. C. E.
(Prepared by Louise C. Smith, secretary, and read at the 150th anniversary of the church.)
In 1891 the annual State Christian Endeavor Convention was held at Manchester. A number of young people from what was simply District No. 8 attended the convention. They came home filled with the enthusiasm that pervades all such religious gather- ings and decided to form a Christian Endeavor society. A few young people of the neighborhood met at Mr. A. W. Holbrook's and a society was organized with seven active members. This society must of course have a name. Several were proposed but it was finally decided to call it the West Bedford Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. The name was so appropriate that it was soon adopted by the community, and it is no longer simply District No. 8, but West Bedford. The society thus formed still continues to live and prosper with this motto as its watchword, "For Christ and the Church."
There have been 49 different members. Of these 2 have died and 18 removed. The members now number 28, 10 active, 10 asso- ciate, and 8 honorary. All of the active and honorary members except 3 are members of the church, three of these having joined from the society since its organization. Mr. A. W. Holbrook was the first president. During the first year no record was kept of the regular meetings. In the last six years only 19 meetings have been omitted and the average attendance during the same time was 15. The meetings are held Friday evenings at private homes. Socials are held quite regularly, and these, as well as the meetings, have been well attended. Nearly every year one or two barrels of cloth- ing and good literature have been collected and given to the city mission. Besides this, an average of nearly 90 cents for every active member has been given to missions through the society each year. A part of the money has been sent to the Presbyterian Board of Missions. The remainder was used for special objects. Among these are: aiding the sick; sending the Christian Endeavor World to missionaries ; Moody Library given to the Union Sunday- school at Milan, N. H .; and furnishing a crib, mattress, and quilts for the Orphans' Home at Franklin, N. H. For a year papers were furnished for the children in the Sunday-school of this church. About three years ago a temperance pledge was circulated. It was signed by nearly one half of the present members, beside quite a number who were not members. Number 8 school-room is dec- orated by the Christian Endeavor Flower Committee for Sunday evening meetings. After the meeting the bouquets of flowers are given to those who have none at home. Flowers have also been sent to the sick.
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